Inebriated elk terrorizes streets of Södertälje

A drunken elk reportedly attacked a pedestrian in the Hölö district of Södertälje south of Stockholm on Tuesday, prompting a response from police.

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Police received a call about an aggressive elk shortly after 3pm, the local Länstidningen Södertälje (LT) newspaper reports.

The elk was reportedly hiding behind a bakery when it suddenly attacked a passerby, according to police, who asked from assistance from a game warden in dealing with the hostile animal.

“The game warden recognized the elk. It usually walks around and eats apples, gets drunk, and then gets aggressive,” police spokesperson Björn Engström told the newspaper.

Elks are known to become intoxicated from eating yeasted apples, which can sometimes lead them to become belligerent.

Following the incident, authorities decided to destroy the animal, which was thought to be injured.

The victim of the elk’s attack, however, reportedly survived the incident without serious injury.